"Three-Flower Pupils: Illusion Break!"
Chen Mo murmured.
Ten minutes of enlightenment was hardly long, but watching the woman in green fight had allowed him to comprehend a soul skill.
Once unleashed, this soul skill could instantly unravel all illusions, illusion arts, disguises, and mimicry; it could see through the flow of a target's soul power and magnify their openings by fifty percent.
Illusion-Breaking Void! Origin Sight!
Those were the effects of this soul skill.
"Not bad. This soul skill is just right for support."
Chen Mo blinked, withdrawing his Jade-Eyed Three-Flower Pupils.
"Come to think of it, my soul power has already reached the peak of rank thirty."
"It's time to hunt for my third soul ring."
"But which soul beast should I hunt for my third ring?"
Over the next few days.
Since Chen Mo had already passed the Level 1 Soul Engineer assessment.
He automatically received full marks on this semester's final assessment.
He no longer needed to attend his regular classes, either.
He was free to do as he pleased.
But even with that freedom, he did not sit idle.
He sought out Jing Hongchen on his own initiative and asked him to teach him about Level 2 and Level 3 Soul Tools.
When Jing Hongchen first heard this, he was utterly bewildered.
After all, he had witnessed every bit of effort Chen Mo had put in over the past three months.
The boy had practically been rising before dawn and working late into the night.
Of the twenty-four hours in a day, he had not wasted a single minute.
He had finally managed to pass the Level 1 Soul Engineer assessment.
By all rights, he ought to have taken a break.
Yet, contrary to expectations.
He had chosen to continue studying higher-level soul tool knowledge straightaway.
Seeing how much Chen Mo loved learning.
Jing Hongchen sighed inwardly with feeling.
As expected of the student he had set his sights on.
Hardworking, talented, and quick-witted, too.
This was precisely the student he had always dreamed of having.
Thinking back to the students he had taught before, he could not help grumbling inwardly.
What a bunch of incompletely evolved humans.
But one thing puzzled him slightly.
He could understand Chen Mo studying Level 2 soul tool knowledge, but what was the point of studying Level 3 material?
Could he be reaching for heights beyond his grasp?
Yet after spending these past days with the boy, he knew that was not his nature.
Forget it. No point dwelling on it.
Since his student wanted to learn, he, as the teacher, had to share everything he knew.
Thus, without hesitation, Jing Hongchen decided to sacrifice some of the teaching time reserved for the Illustrious Virtue Hall's students.
He devoted it specifically to teaching Chen Mo in person.
While studying Level 2 and Level 3 soul tool knowledge, Chen Mo also considered which soul beast he should hunt for his third ring.
During this time, he had also asked Jing Hongchen whether he could offer any advice.
Although Jing Hongchen usually cared a great deal about saving face.
He knew that he taught soul tools and was not skilled at guiding martial soul cultivation.
So he offered no advice.
That afternoon.
Chen Mo arrived at the academy library.
First, he had come to borrow books and blueprints on Level 2 and Level 3 Soul Tools.
Second, he wanted to see whether the academy's collection included any books on soul beasts, so he could find a suitable one.
He entered the lending room.
A vast number of soul tool books stood neatly arranged on the shelves.
By contrast, the books related to martial souls.
Occupied only one tiny bookshelf—no, a bookcase would be more accurate.
With just a scant few books inside.
Now Chen Mo finally understood why the Sun Moon Empire lagged so far behind in martial soul cultivation.
Their focus on one subject at the expense of the other was simply too extreme.
Fortunately, there happened to be a book documenting soul beasts among the collection.
After picking it up, he found several soul tool books and blueprints as well.
He went to the checkout desk.
He handed over his soul engineering token, and the librarian in charge began registering the loans.
The first few books went through smoothly, but when it came to a book on Level 2 Soul Tool materials.
The device let out a series of beeps.
And indicated that his borrowing privileges were insufficient.
The librarian carefully examined Chen Mo's soul engineering token and said, "Chen Mo, First Grade, Class One. Are you the new student who passed the Level 1 Soul Engineer assessment in just three months?"
"Yes."
"May I ask if there's something wrong with my token?"
Chen Mo asked in return.
The librarian adjusted his glasses. "Here's the situation. Academy regulations limit first-year students to borrowing Level 1 Soul Tool materials. To borrow anything beyond that, you have to submit an application for approval."
"An application? Roughly how long does approval take?"
"Let me work it out. You submit a report to your homeroom teacher, who then sends it to the academic affairs office. After the Director of Education reviews and signs it, it goes to the deputy dean responsible for approval. Once the deputy dean signs it, it has to go to the dean for another signature. About half a month, I suppose."
"..."
For a moment, Chen Mo was speechless.
Why was borrowing a book such a hassle?
Why hadn't anyone told him when he enrolled?
But then another thought struck him.
Couldn't he skip all those steps?
After all, his teacher was none other than Dean Jing Hongchen.
Just as he was about to go back, write an application, and seek Jing Hongchen's signature.
An exceptionally pleasant, gentle female voice sounded beside him.
"Register them under my token."
"Thank you."
Chen Mo hurriedly thanked her and turned toward the speaker, then froze.
She had long, silky white hair and beautiful aqua-blue eyes that seemed to ripple like clear water; her face could look both commanding and sweet, leaving him momentarily spellbound.
His daze did not last long before he recognized the person before him.
Meng Hongchen!
His teacher Jing Hongchen's granddaughter.
Soon, with Meng Hongchen's help.
Chen Mo successfully borrowed the books he wanted.
Along the way.
The two chatted back and forth.
"Thank you so much for helping me out, Senior Meng. Otherwise, I'd have had to go back and write a report." He smiled and thanked her again.
"You're welcome." Meng Hongchen smiled faintly, then looked at Chen Mo, who was half a head shorter than her, and added, "But I never expected the Chen Mo who's been making such a stunning splash lately to look so young."
Chen Mo was surprised. "You know about me, Senior?"
"Of course. Everyone in the academy already knows how you went from enrolling to passing the Level 1 Soul Engineer assessment."
"You're quite famous now, you know."
After saying this.
Meng Hongchen turned her gaze toward the books in Chen Mo's hands.
"Speaking of which, Junior, why are you borrowing books on Level 2 and Level 3 Soul Tools? Have you already started studying Level 2 and Level 3 soul tool knowledge?"
"That's right."
"But even with my teacher's guidance, I've only scratched the surface so far."
"I thought I'd find some reference material to read through when I get back."
Chen Mo spoke modestly.
Hearing Chen Mo mention his teacher, Meng Hongchen asked curiously, "Who's the teacher guiding you in soul tools?"
"My teacher is called Golden Toad. He's a Level 7 Soul Engineer." Chen Mo did not expose Jing Hongchen, giving his alias instead.
After hearing this, Meng Hongchen rubbed her chin with her right hand.
She carefully recalled the academy's Level 7 Soul Engineers.
"How strange. Why don't I remember anyone like that among the academy's Level 7 Soul Engineers? Junior, you're not lying to me, are you?"
"No, of course not. You've done me such a huge favor today, Senior. How could I possibly lie to you?"
"Oh, right. My teacher said he's very close to the dean. They studied under the same master."
Grandpa? Since when did Grandpa have a junior fellow disciple?
Forget it. Why keep puzzling over it? I can just ask Grandpa when I get back.
Meng Hongchen stopped dwelling on it.
The two chatted for a while longer.
Eventually, they parted at a fork in the path.
Watching Chen Mo's departing figure, Meng Hongchen murmured, "Looks like my chances of winning are pretty good."
Before you continue